Police: Device, Note Found Inside Lawnside Borough Hall Is Hoax

LAWNSIDE, N.J. (CBS) — The device that was found along with a note addressed to the town’s mayor and forced the evacuation of a borough building in Camden County Thursday morning had been found to be a hoax, says officials.

The incident began at about 8:30 a.m. inside the Lawnside Borough Hall building on East Douglas Avenue.

According to police, a court clerk spotted the suspicious device inside an elevator and called 911.

The bomb squad responded to the scene and found a device that consisted of a plastic bag with duct tape and three pipes that were connected to a timing device. Investigators say the bag that the device was located in had the name of Lawnside Mayor, Mary Ann Wardlow, written on it.

The bomb squad used a robot to detonate the device.

The building was evacuated and the bomb squad conducted a sweep of the building as part of the investigation.

There were no reports of any injuries.

After investigating, police say the device consisted of a pair of flares taped to two pipes; it did not contain explosives. Investigators say the device contained screws and the flares could not be ignited.

Police are investigating when the device was placed in the elevator and who placed it there.